Folding table



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. B. JONES. FOLDING TABLE.

No. 346,660. Patented Aug. 3, 1886..

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Lllll llll WITNESSES: 4 INVENTOR:

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(No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

. A. B. JONES.

FOLDING TABLE. No. 346,660. Patented Aug. 3, 1886.

WITNESSES: Y INVENTOR:

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N4 PETERS. PhawLilho n nu. Washington. D. a

NITED STATES FOLDING TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Application filed February 20, 1866.

Patent No. 3&6,660, dated August 3, 1886.

Serial No. 192,658. No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALONZO B. JoNEs, of Jetfersonville, in the county of Clark and State of Indiana, have invented a new and Im- 5 proved Folding Table, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to the construction of a table wherein the legs are arranged tobe folded beneath the top of the table, the table being more especially desigued'for use as a ladys work-table, but being also applicable to many other uses, as will be readily appreciated from the construction to be hereinafter described.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is an inverted'plan View of the folding table, representing the legs as folded upon the top. Fig. 2 is a similar view representing the legs as in the extended position.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 00 a: of

Fig. 2. Fig. at is a sectional View taken on line 3 y of Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 is a side view of the table in the closed or folded position.

In constructing such a table as is illustrated in the drawings above referred to each pair of legs is mounted upon a cross-bar, B, that is hinged to a plate, 0, which plate in turn is secured to the under side of the top A. At

the center of the plate 0 there is mounted a shaft, D, by means of brackets a a, and about this shaft there is coiled a spring, E, said 3 5 spring being preferably formed of a length of wire, the center of which is caught on a-knob,

b, and then coiled about the shaft D, the ends of the wire being arranged to impinge against the outer side of the bar B, so that the action 40 of the spring will tend to throw the bar B to the position shown in Fig. 1. As before stated, the legs of the table are carried by the crossbar B, the two pairs of legs being arranged so that when folded they will interlock, as shown. 5 These legs are shown at F F, and upon the upper end of each leg there is fixed a small wheel or roller, G, which rollers or wheels, when the legs are folded beneath the top of the table, act as supports for the device and 0 enable the operator to roll the structure along the floor beneath the bed or other piece of furniture within the apartment in which the table is being used.

In order that the legs F F may be held extended in the position shown in Fig. 3, I provide each pair of legs with a catch-arm, H, that is pivoted to a bracket, I. Theprojecting head h of the catch-arm H rides in a of the plate J. The outer end of the slide N is turned down at n, and in this downwardlyextending portion there is formed an aperture, through which there is inserted the end of a manipulating-rod, 0, said rod being held in place bya nut, p, and the parts being normally held in the position shown in Fig. 2 by the action of a spiral spring, g, which is arranged to abut against the inner face of the bracket 1 and the downwardlyextending portion a of the slide N. p The upper faces of the head h of the catch-arms H are beveled off, so that as the legs'are extended to the position shown in Fig. 3 the said beveled upper face will strike against the catches K and raise them to allow for a passage of the head of the catch-arm, as will be readily understood from an inspection of Fig. 3.

In opening the table, all that is necessary is to grasp the legs and move them outward till the. heads of the arms H have been caught by the catches K, in which position the parts will be held until the levers L L are drawn out, thus withdrawing the catches K from engagement with the heads of the arms H, when the springs E will act to return the legs to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 5.

Although I have described a particular formof spring in connection with my improved folding table, it will of course be understood that any other form of spring arranged to act to return the legs to the folding position would answer my purpose equally as well as the spring described.

hinged to the under side of the table-top, the

legs F, secured to the cross-bars, and the pivoted arms H, of the pivoted levers L, the catches K, secured to the said levers, the slide N, and the spring-actuated operating-rod 0, substantially as herein shown and described.

3. The combination, with a table-top provided with ways on its under side and legs hinged to the said tabletop, of arms pivoted 20 t0 thelegs, and provided with beads working in the said ways, and sliding catches for engaging the heads of the said arms to hold the legs open, substantially as herein shown and described. 25

4. The combination, with a table-top provided with ways on its under side, and legs hinged to the said top, of arms pivoted to the legs, and provided with heads working in the said ways, and having their upper faces bev- 3o eled, and spring-actuated catches on the under side of the table-top, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. I

ALONZO B. J ONES.

\Vitnesses:

SAMUEL J. JAMISON, WM. BOYCE. 

